Low interest rates continue to fuel UK M&A activity

The UK stock market has had a sluggish start to 2015, especially when compared to other European markets such as the DAX or the CAC 40. The reasons for this are varied; but given the plethora of M&A activity witnessed so far this year, we are not the only participants who see value. Year to date, close to 30 companies have been acquired or have agreed to be acquired in the UK. This month Alent, the performance material business created from the Cookson demerger, has fallen prey to Platform Speciality Products Corporation of the US. Interestingly, although the price paid was a 49% prem...